Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: What Happened at the Ball (6)
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Welton Count looked at his son collapsed on the floor.
His son had just tried to kill the eldest son of the Simon family.
At first, he thought it might be a mistake, but the eyes of a Sword Master would never accept it as such.
If he hadn't intervened, the Simon family's eldest son would no longer be of this world by now.
The Simon Count thought the same.
'Alf's lack of skill prevented the Phoenix Rays from unleashing its full power. Even so, it had the might of a 4th Class spell, and he blocked it barehanded.'
The Phoenix Rays was an experimental artifact he had created in his youth. Designed solely for destruction, if fully activated, it could demolish an entire mansion.
Due to the caster's extremely low level, it hadn't even reached half its potential power, but even that would have been enough to burn down the ballroom.
'Impressive. Astonishing. It might really be possible.'
To him, his son's well-being was irrelevant.
In fact, he hadn't spared a single glance at Alf, who had collapsed with weakened legs.
The Simon Count's mind was filled only with thoughts of the 9th Class.
"We'll discuss this later."
"Very well."
"Darling!"
At that moment, the Simon Count's wife approached him with an indignant expression.
She looked furious, glaring venomously at Jamie.
"That child tried to harm our son! Are you just going to let it slide?"
"Watch your words. Alf was the one who struck first."
Sears, who had been quietly observing from the side, stepped forward to refute her.
"Alf used the artifact to induce hallucinations first, then tried to attack my son with it."
Sears gestured with her chin toward the Phoenix Rays rolling slowly beside Alf.
"Am I wrong?"
"Alf just a little!"
"Just a little? Go on, say more."
Sears's gaze sharpened.
She approached the Simon Countess with a face as cold as ice. The inexplicable pressure made the Simon Countess falter.
Welton Count stepped in front of Sears.
"That's enough, madam."
"Please, continue. Simon Countess."
Even with Welton Count's intervention, Sears showed no intention of stopping.
Whispers arose from the surroundings.
Most of them were condemnations directed at the Simon Countess and Alf.
The Simon Countess looked to her husband, shrinking back.
"D-Darling."
The Simon Count took a step forward.
Her expression brightened slightly. No matter how little interest he had in Alf, blood was blood. She thought even a heartless man would stand up for his child.
That was what she believed.
"On this fine day, my son has been rude. I am truly sorry, Welton Countess."
But the words from the Simon Count's mouth shattered her expectations.
She stared at her husband in shock.
Ignoring her gaze, the Simon Count politely apologized to Sears.
"I have no face to show."
Sears's expression soured slightly. It was hard to respond when he put it that way. Though Jamie had acted in self-defense, it was true he had intended to use lethal magic.
She clicked her tongue inwardly and replied.
"Thank you for the courteous apology. We'll take our leave for today."
"Understood. You should retire first and rest as well. It must have been distressing."
"...Very well, for now."
The Welton family returned to their lodgings first.
Once they were gone, the Simon Countess unleashed her pent-up rage at him.
"How could you! That's our son! Our son!"
"Be silent."
"What did you say?"
"There are many eyes watching. Take that boy and go inside first."
"You..."
She glared resentfully at the Simon Count, who didn't even spare her a glance, then took the still dazed Alf and left.
Her retreating figure radiated sorrow and anger at the betrayal from someone she trusted.
Yet the Simon Count gave neither her nor his son a single look.
"We're sorry for ruining the ball. Everyone, please retire and rest for today."
As the host of the ball and one of the two leaders of the eastern nobility, no one refused his words.
The lively ball ended in an instant.
Everyone carried in their minds the awe of that one boy.
"How could you do that?! That's our son! Even if he was wrong first, you should have taken his side there!"
The Simon Countess yelled at the expressionless Count, but he pretended not to hear.
He merely stared at his eldest son, Alf, who trembled in fear.
"You!"
Unable to hold back, the wife raised her voice further.
For the first time, the Count's expression changed. He frowned slightly and glared at her.
"Be quiet."
"Ha!"
"I've been very patient. If you continue..."
The Count's eyes grew icy cold.
It was a warning not to say another word.
The wife felt her resolve crumbling, but knowing his temperament, she had no choice but to shut her mouth.
The Count looked back at Alf.
"Was it to get my attention?"
"..."
"Don't stay silent."
"...Yes."
"Did you know that your actions would bring harm to the eastern nobility, and even the entire kingdom?"
"...I just."
"Answer me."
"I-I didn't know."
Alf had never been scolded by the Count before.
Because he had never paid him any attention, Alf didn't even know what kind of emotions his father possessed.
And today, for the first time, his father showed interest in his son.
But Alf didn't like it at all.
It was terrifying. Frightening. His father's first attention felt excruciatingly painful.
Did he bring this upon himself? The still young Alf couldn't grasp even that much.
"Are you satisfied? With this father's attention."
"..."
"Why do you think I have no interest in you?"
"I-I don't know."
"Who gave you the Phoenix Rays?"
"..."
"You've ignored my questions twice. This is the last. There won't be a third."
"L-Lennon. Lennon gave it to me."
"Bring Lennon here."
Moments later, Lennon arrived with a servant.
He looked at his pitiful older brother with disdain. He had even handed him the spoon, but his incompetence led to failure.
Now it was his turn.
The Count sat Lennon down beside Alf.
"Did you give the Phoenix Rays to your brother?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want to see my brother suffer."
"No. You just wanted to manipulate your brother."
Lennon's eyes widened at the Count's piercing words.
The Simon Countess reacted the same. She looked at Lennon in disbelief.
"L-Lennon. Is that true?"
"..."
Lennon couldn't respond.
How long had his father known?
He had never shown any sign. Lennon thought he had played the good son perfectly, even being kind to his brother.
Above all, his father, the Simon Count, had shown no interest in him either. Lennon was certain he would never know.
The Count continued.
"You're right. I have no interest in you two. Even though you're my blood, your talents fall short."
"Darling!"
Both Alf and Lennon were born with magical talent.
However, the talent the Simon Count desired was far beyond just being somewhat gifted.
"Do you think I wouldn't know what you're thinking?"
No matter how clever they acted, they were still children.
Their intentions were obvious from their expressions alone.
Even now, Alf aside, Lennon was pondering why he had been caught.
"Do you want my attention?"
At the Count's words, the two brothers looked at their father with puzzled eyes.
"If you want my attention, prove you're of Simon blood. No matter how foolish your schemes, they stir no emotion in me."
The words "foolish schemes" soured both brothers' faces.
The Simon Count knew everything they had done.
Thus, he was giving them a chance.
A chance to earn their father's attention.
"I won't interfere in what you do from now on. But you must clean up your own messes."
The Count rose from his seat and commanded his two sons.
"Tomorrow at dawn, go to the Welton family and apologize to Jamie Welton. Until he forgives you."
Alf wanted to refuse, but he lacked the courage.
For the first time today, he had glimpsed what kind of man his father was. And he realized all his past actions had been meaningless.
'Damn it, I have to see that guy again?'
The terror from that moment hadn't faded.
If anything, it made his body twitch involuntarily every time he recalled it.
What if he refused forgiveness and tried to kill him again?
Alf couldn't find an answer.
Unlike his brother, Lennon had no particular thoughts on the apology order.
He simply mulled over the Count's words.
'Prove you're Simon blood.'
Those words set Lennon's heart racing.
Sears gently stroked the cheek of her still-sleeping son with a sad face.
She didn't know what had happened between the two, but her gentle son had tried to use magic with clear intent to kill.
It wasn't a mistake. She had seen many people harboring killing intent in her life. Jamie's was real—too overt to dismiss as illusion.
What had a mere 7-year-old gone through to feel that way?
The more she thought, the angrier she got.
She had heard rumors about Alf. That he lorded over the second-generation nobles of the east. Back then, she thought him just a kid playing gang leader.
But the Alf she saw this time was malicious.
Not intending to kill like Jamie, but if that artifact had activated properly, many lives would have been lost regardless.
'If he hadn't stepped in, it would have been a disaster.'
She had realized too late.
Because they were children, she had let prejudice blind her.
Her mind was a mess, unsure what to do. Should she call on her family's power? If her family intervened, even the Simon house would have to yield.
Though the Simon Count had apologized, she might secure even greater compensation.
As she pondered this, she looked at Jamie's face.
'...What am I thinking.'
She brushed back his emerald locks.
Then, the sound of the door opening announced Welton Count's entrance.
"Are you alright?"
"What's not to be?"
The Count sat beside her and looked at his son.
Then he asked his wife.
"What would you have me do?"
"..."
"I'll do as you wish. If I act on my desires, things might escalate too far."
Sears looked at her husband.
His eyes still burned with deep anger. But unlike before, he had composed himself after sorting his thoughts.
Seeing this, Sears gave a faint smile.
"You stopped me earlier."
"I was worried it would upset you more."
"...It's fine. The Simon Count apologized politely right there. In the end, no one was hurt."
"Is that enough for you?"
"I don't want this issue fracturing the eastern nobility. Jamie wouldn't want that either. Above all, he got properly scared."
"Alf? He did look thoroughly terrified. Ha ha."
A naive brutality is mere the desperate lunge of a herbivore frightened before true killing intent.
"He won't sleep deeply with us here. Let's go."
"Yes."
The couple gazed lovingly at their son before quietly leaving the room.
Moments later.
Jamie confirmed they were gone and opened his eyes. His head throbbed. Was it from prolonged exposure to Sears's love? No, not this time.
'Jane.'
He thought her memory had been completely erased.
He recalled the eldest daughter of the Valle Viscount family.
She looked exactly like Jane in her childhood. The only differences were her hair and eye color.
He knew reincarnation was real. He himself had transcended tens of thousands of years to be reborn.
But he hadn't expected his lover to reincarnate as well. She hadn't recognized him. Not because his face was different.
She didn't have memories of her past life like Jamie did.
'That's normal. I'm the special one.'
Was it fate's prank?
Or someone's scheme?
Jamie's eyes narrowed. If a scheme, whose?
'Do they know I've reincarnated and placed Jane before me?'
He shook his head. Unlikely.
The 12 Gods he knew wouldn't idly spectate him. They knew the threat he posed.
Especially Zenith, the chief god of the Zenith Church rooted in his territory of Hice, would target his current weakened state without fail.
This much he was certain of.
The 12 Gods were unaware of his existence. Thus, meeting Jane—the eldest daughter of the Valle Viscount family—was pure coincidence.
"Hoo. My head hurts."
Having severed the emotion of love, his feelings for her were hazy. Yet knowing how she had died left a lingering guilt.
Squeak-
Sensing his master's mood, Black appeared unbidden and rubbed its face against his cheek.
"Thanks."
Jamie smiled faintly and scratched under Black's chin with his finger.
"I need to meet her again."
Earlier, he had panicked with that weirdo involved and overexerted himself.
He hadn't expected retaliation with such an artifact. But the fool couldn't even use it properly, so canceling it was easy.
The problem was the spell he had impulsively tried to cast exceeded his current limits.
If Welton Count hadn't blocked it, he'd still be laid out.
'Not bad. In the end, he'll tuck tail every time he sees me now.'
He had been fully exposed to the killing intent.
He must have realized Jamie could kill him anytime he wished.
Being young, that emotion would etch deeply as intense trauma.
In the end, the fool had fallen to his own scheme.
He'd never show his face in high society again, let alone the nobility. Even if he did, his wastrel antics would cease.
'Saved one person, I suppose.'
Jamie nodded in satisfaction.